Habiganj hospital returns to old habits days after health minister’s surprise inspection

Habiganj Modern Sadar Hospital stayed tidy for a few days after Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain Bakul's surprise visit, but it has slipped back into old habits.

Patients and their relatives say the filth is so bad that people must hold their noses in places, accusing the staff of negligent care.

Hospital Superintendent Aminul Hoque Sarker points to a shortage of doctors and staff as the cause.

Patients say that despite paying Tk 10 for an emergency ticket or Tk 5 for the outpatient department, they cannot get adequate treatment, and they must buy key medicines from outside.

Apart from blood tests, ultrasonography, X-rays and electrocardiograms (ECGs), other tests have to be done elsewhere, they say. Patients also face difficulties completing those tests because the equipment often becomes unusable.

There are not enough beds, forcing some patients to receive treatment on floors and corridors, relatives say.

Waste is scattered in parts of the hospital, while some bathrooms have become unusable.

Nurul Haque, a resident of Lenjapara village in Shayestaganj Upazila, was admitted on Wednesday night.

“I'm not getting medicines after admission,” he said. “I have to buy them from outside at my own cost. I have to call the nurses when I need them, otherwise they don't respond.”

Rina Begum of Adampur in Austagram Upazila of neighbouring Kishoreganj admitted her child with breathing trouble eight days ago.

She had treated the child at a private hospital first, and doctors here follow those prescription, Rina said. “My child has not improved, so I sought a discharge on Sunday.”

Salma Begum of Ikram village in Baniachong Upazila said that after she bought a Tk 5 ticket for her daughter, doctors prescribe tests that the hospital does not offer, so she had them done elsewhere.

The child was admitted on Thursday. “Only one injection is given from the hospital each morning,” she said. “Everything else I have to buy from outside.”

M Sajlu Mia of Inatabad in the district town said the hospital looked tidy and the service was reasonable for a few days after the minister's surprise visit, but it soon returned to its old state.

Many patients are reluctant to get treatment because of the filth, he said, and are sometimes fed up with the behaviour of doctors and nurses.

The minister had paid a surprise visit to 250-bed Habiganj Sadar Hospital on Aug 29.

He inspected the medicine store, the children's ward, the emergency department, the pathology department and the kitchen.

He found pharmacist Regan Ahmed absent and ordered his immediate transfer to Biswambarpur in Sunamganj.

He also voiced strong displeasure at the filthy, unhygienic state of the hospital, saying it was far dirtier than hospitals in neighbouring districts.

Minister Sakhawat talked to patients in the general wards and heard their troubles.

Later, he spoke to doctors of Habiganj Medical College Hospital about the shortage of doctors and staff, and promised more doctors and beds at the Sadar Hospital.

Local people are angry that the hospital has slid back after a few tidy days, said Mansur Ahmed Iqbal, founding president of Habiganj Press Club.

“This hospital is the district's only hope, but its care leaves us disappointed. Many tests have to be done outside,” he said. “The filth is very sad. We demand that the authorities act quickly.”

Superintendent Sarker said the hospital is trying to give proper treatment but is struggling for want of staff.

“We have discussed it with senior officials,” he said. “We hope the problems will be solved once doctors and staff are recruited.”